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BMW debuts $6,500 DC fast charger

The SAE Combo one connector is compatible with the i3 and a number of other EVs in North America and other markets. Photo by BMW

SAE Combo 1 standard charger is half the size of traditional DC units

BMW is launching their own fast charging station, one capable of juicing up the BMW i3 up to 80 percent of its capacity in just 30 minutes. The new charger, developed in conjunction with Bosch, is very compact and uses the SAE Combo 1 connector. Rated at 24kW, the fast charger will be compatible with several other EVs and plug-in hybrids made by GM, Ford, Chrysler, Daimler, Volkswagen, Porsche, and Audi. BMW plans to retail the charger, which measures 31 inches by 19 inches and weighs around 100 pounds, for $6,548.

The 24kW DC Fast Charger, which BMW touts as being approximately half the size of traditional electric vehicle DC chargers, features a sturdy aluminum IP54 enclosure. Designed to be mounted on a wall, the charger can operate in extreme weather conditions, from -40F to 185F (which describes Minnesota's annual temperature ranges pretty accurately). The charger feeds the current directly to the vehicle's battery, ensuring a more efficient and faster charging session. The charger itself will be available at BMW i Centers starting this month.

The new fast charger will weigh around 100 pounds and can be mounted on a wall. Photo by BMW

"This is a milestone in the development of the DC fast charging infrastructure," said Robert Healey, EV Infrastructure Manager at BMW of North America. "With more than five years of real world experience, we understand that a robust network of publicly available DC Combo Fast Chargers is a key part of the mobility of tomorrow."

BMW is also offering buyers of the i3 free fast-charging sessions at public terminals using the ChargeNow DC Fast program for i3 buyers in California. BMW, in cooperation with NRG eVgo, will offer unlimited 30 minute DC charging sessions at at NRG eVgo Freedom Station sites equipped with DC Combo Fast Charging through the end of 2015. eVgo will be fielding at least 100 BMW i3 compatible DC chargers in California as a part of this program.

What is it?First previewed as a concept in 2011, the advanced electric-powered BMW i3 is the BMW i brand's first model. The contemporary four-seat hatch has progressed to the pre-production stage with ...